The morning arrived with a heavy silence. The campfire that had borne silent witness to their sorrow the night before was now nothing but cold ash. Kenzo watched Lina as she slept, her face peaceful for the first time, as if dreams had granted her a reprieve from the cruel reality. But they could not stay. Every second they spent here was a risk.
Before waking the girl, Kenzo's logic took over. They had nothing. No supplies, no equipment. He was an engineer, not a survivalist, but the basic principles were the same: analyze, design, execute. He found a sturdy, long tree branch. Using a sharp piece of rock, he patiently began to sharpen the tip. The result was a crude spear, inelegant, but functional. It was enough for defense against small animals or to help him walk. He also fashioned a makeshift water container from a large piece of bark, using a sliver of mana to harden it, ensuring it would not leak.
When Lina finally awoke, she said nothing. She simply looked at Kenzo with her vacant eyes, then stood and brushed the dust from her clothes. She followed him like a shadow as they began to walk, her hand never letting go of the runic pendant around her neck.
Kenzo did not know the geography of this world. The most logical choice was to follow the small stream they had found the day before. Downstream. Human civilizations always depended on water. It was an assumption he had to make. Prometheus helped him maintain a consistent direction, using the positions of the two moons and the sun as a natural compass.
When hunger began to set in, Kenzo started searching for edible plants. The bitter memory of his own poisoning made him extremely cautious. He saw some tempting red berry bushes, similar to the ones he had eaten before, but hesitation held him back.
It was then that Lina, who had been silent all this time, made a move. She walked past the berry bush Kenzo was observing and pointed to a different one, whose berries were a pale blue. She picked one, showed it to Kenzo with a look that seemed to say, "This one," and then ate it without hesitation.
Kenzo paused for a moment. He recognized the fruit; the same kind the hunters often brought back to the village. He had learned which ones were safe, but Lina knew. In the midst of her trauma and grief, her knowledge of her home was still intact. It was the first moment where Lina was not just someone to be protected, but a competent fellow survivor. Kenzo nodded at her, a sign of thanks and respect, then joined her in picking the blue fruit.
Three days passed in a monotonous yet tense rhythm. During the day they walked without stopping, tracing the winding riverbank. Whenever they rested, Kenzo was never idle. While making sure Lina was safe, he would sit and practice. He would take a single drop of water from their container and manipulate it in his palm, forcing it to form a perfect sphere, then splitting it into two identical droplets, then merging them back together. This was not about power; it was about precision, about training his brain to handle multiple variables at once.
[Mana reserves: 45%. Control efficiency has increased by 3%. Continued precision exercises are recommended to strengthen neural mana pathways.]
He was upgrading his "hardware," preparing himself for when he would need strength again.
At night, Kenzo would make a small fire and keep watch while Lina slept restlessly. He often heard her whimper for her father in her sleep, and each time, the weight of his vow on his shoulders felt heavier.
On the second night, while Lina was fast asleep near the fire, Kenzo heard a sound. A soft rustling in the bushes, too deliberate and quiet to be an ordinary animal. He immediately doused the fire with a bit of earth magic, leaving only a small, hidden ember. His heart pounded slowly.
He peered into the darkness. Two glowing red dots appeared between the trees, moving with an unnatural, fluid speed. A Shadow Wolf. The same predator that had once terrorized the village.
His first instinct was to prepare a fire formula. He could fight it. His mana reserves were over 50%. A well-placed fireball could probably drive it away or even kill it.
[Analyzing threat. Probability of victory in direct confrontation: 78%. Risk of waking subject 'Lina' and attracting other unknown attention: High,] Prometheus reported.
Kenzo's mind changed instantly. A 78% chance of victory meant a 22% chance of failure. It was a risk he could accept if only his own life was at stake. But now, he carried Lina's life with him. He remembered his vow to Kael. Playing it safe was no longer an option; it was the only option.
He very carefully lifted the sleeping Lina without waking her, wrapping her in his cloak. Every movement was slow and deliberate. He backed away slowly from their resting spot, moving deeper into the forest's darkness, using the trees as cover. He did not run. He slipped away, holding his breath, praying the predator was only interested in the lingering scent of their food and not in moving prey.
After what felt like an eternity, he stopped, hiding behind a large boulder, and waited. The rustling sound did not follow them. The danger had passed. He felt an overwhelming sense of relief, but also a cold frustration. He had the power to fight, but not the luxury to use it.
The next day, their journey continued with a newfound sense of caution. On the fourth day, the forest began to thin. The air felt different. After a grueling climb up one last hill, they saw it. In the distance, a patch of green and fertile farmland was spread out before them. Beyond it, a dusty main road bustled with carts and travelers. They had made it. Civilization.
Relief washed over Kenzo. He looked at Lina, who was also staring at the scene with wide eyes, a glimmer of hope appearing on her face.
However, the relief was short-lived.
As they observed the road from their hiding spot at the edge of the forest, a patrol passed by. Six knights on horseback, their silver armor gleaming under the sun. On their cloaks, a familiar symbol was embroidered in gold thread. The same symbol worn by the Commander who had burned his village to the ground. The symbol of the Church.
[Visual analysis: Subjects match data of Church Knights from the previous incident. It is highly probable they are patrolling for fugitives. Probability of being identified upon approach: High.]
Kenzo's heart felt like it had stopped. He instinctively pulled Lina further into the shadows of the trees. He saw Lina's bright yellow hair, a color so beautiful yet now so dangerous, standing out against the green of the forest. Then he thought of his own black hair, a feature just as conspicuous among the lighter-haired locals.
They could not approach the city. Not like this. They were not survivors; they were walking targets. Beacons screaming to be found.
'Damn it,' Kenzo thought, the relief from moments ago turning to ice in his stomach. 'We'll never get through. This hair... this appearance... they'll catch us in an instant. Prometheus... we have to change. We have to disappear. And I think I know how.'